Schedule:  (subject to minor changes)

Friday, October 6th, 2023
4-5:00pm Arrival & Welcoming Tea Ceremony w/Kayde fen Deardorff
5-6 pm Love your Lips (Make your Own Natural Chapstick) w/Marlyn McClendon
6:30pm Dinner
 
Saturday, October 7th, 2023***
8 am Gentle Yoga/Movement w/Kayde fen Deardorff
9 am Breakfast 
9:30 Nature's Connections Walk w/Adrienne
12  Lunch
2 pm Singing in Harmony for Beginners w/Kayde fen Deardorff
5 pm Magic Mocktails & Herbal Elixirs
6 pm  Dinner
8 pm  Community Campfire
***ADD ON for Saturday: traditional Lomilomi massage by Hayley Tamea. 
 
Sunday, October 8th, 2023
9:00 Breakfast
10:00 Plant Stories Walk w/Erica
12:00 Wrap up, course evaluations, good-byes

Guests check-out by 1 pm
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Kayde fen Deardorff is an herbalist, dancer, musician and teacher who lives in the beautiful mountains of Hillsboro, WV. She is a graduate of Sacred Plant Traditions three year clinical program in Western Herbalism.  Additional herbal study includes interning with Lauren Cooper of Greenstar Farms in Blacksburg, VA and studying online with Sarah Holmes and Karyn Sanders of Blue Otter School in California. Kayde began studying both music and dance at the age of six and has studied tap, ballet, jazz, modern, west african, belly dance, and hip hop. She has taught NIA and dance at ACAC, the UVA Cancer Center, & through Roots & Wings in Charlottesville, Va.  Kayde also taught music and vocal harmony with MIMA Music and The Front Porch. She practices yoga and roams the forests daily with her dog Phoebe. Read more about Kayde here: www.wildoneherbs.com
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Erica Marks serves as the director of the Yew Mountain Center, an educational nonprofit organization with a forest farm in Hillsboro, WV.  The Yew Mountain Center is the home of the WV Forest Farming Initiative and serves the community with a wide range of place-based educational and cultural programs. With a background as a science educator and musician, Erica enjoys exploring the creative intersection of nature and the arts. ​
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Adrienne Cedarleaf grew up in Pocahontas County, WV and currently works as Education Coordinator of the Yew Mountain Center.  She holds a degree in Environmental Studies and as a Certified Interpretive Guide, she loves connecting people with the outdoors and sharing her appreciation of nature with others. Previously, she worked as a Naturalist, Americorps Farm 2 School / Local Foods Coordinator, Grow Appalachia program coordinator, Marine Lab assistant/Tour Guide, Montessori Child care worker, camp counselor and other odd jobs. She loves to travel and has lived in Florida, Utah and Costa Rica where she earned a certification in Permaculture Design and worked as a Farm Coordinator at the Punta Mona Center.  She has visited South Africa and Honduras where she worked with volunteer organizations in animal rehabilitation and mud brick construction.  She loves to garden, dance, hike, bike, camp, hunt, fish and generally just be outside.  
COSTS
Reserve your spot for $50--$350 (plus taxes) for the entire weekend, this includes meals, lodging & tuition. This deposit is refundable up to one week before course.  Full payment is due at time of arrival--cash or checks preferred.  We do not have online booking for rooms at this time. 
 
Program Tuition: Tuition costs are per person.

Meals: Must be purchased with a program (unless you are a local resident.)  Includes 6 meals and snacks.  We can accommodate special diets. Please provide these details on web form when paying your deposit online.   Food is fresh, local, and organic when possible.
 
Lomilomi Massage Fee: The only additional fee for the weekend is for an optional personal Lomilomi Massage with Hayley Tamea. 
 
Lodging: Please reserve lodging through email [email protected]

GOOD THINGS TO BRING:
binoculars (we have some you can check-out,) insect repellent (we sell effective, locally made all-natural repellent,) sunscreen (we sell a locally made natural sunscreen too!), closed-toe shoes, long pants and sleeves, hat, jacket, a swimsuit (for our pond or river excursions), favorite field guides (we have some you can check-out,) journal.

GOOD THINGS TO KNOW:
  • AT&T cellular service works pretty well.  Others do not.
  • We have a land line you may us e:  304-653-4079. 
  • We have WIFI, but it is quite limited.  Enjoy unplugging, if you can.
  • The closest grocery stores are in Lewisburg (50 min.) or Marlinton (35 min.) 
  • We have limited refrigerator space if you would like to bring special food.  We ask that you don’t store food in your rooms.  We have storage bins for this purpose.
  • BYO-Adult beverages to enjoy responsibly if you are old enough. 
  • Our rooms and buildings are non-smoking and we use unscented, natural cleaning products.
  • To protect the ecology of our pond, we ask that swimmers use non-toxic natural sunscreen and/or bug repellant if they use any. 
  • We have one guest room where pets are allowed for an additional charge of $50. Pets must remain on a leash and are not allowed in common rooms (service animals excepted.)
  • All participants must sign a standard Waiver and Release form.
  • We are a small, community run non-profit and highly motivated to make this center the best resource it can be.  The YMC is a constant work in progress. We welcome your ideas and feedback. 
  • Your participation in our weekend programs supports local experiential education and stewardship.  Thank you!

Thanks to The Pocahontas CVB for their support & contribution to our programs